5 tips for a young coach

This article came to mind during my visit to the limit of a land where a young coach officiated. He was doing his session and some essential ingredients were missing … which I present to you below.

Of course, each coach starts making many mistakes to make less. But they reassure you that it will always do it … out of ignorance of certain situations, by fatigue, lack of concentration etc … we learn every day of each one.

The idea here is to give or remember 5 extremely important points when performing a training session, especially when it is intended for young players.

Prepare the sessions upstream and suitable

It is inconceivable to get to the session without knowing precisely what will be done during training. Impossible to improvise along the way as and when. Or also to do the same session 4 times or weekly the same exercises. The players are there above all to play football to have fun.

For each sequence of your session plan a duration but also the number of repetitions their duration. This will allow you to know where you are permanently in the session and to manage it.

For each sequence it also provides the space used which allows depending on the total space allocated to see if the session passes in this area.

Suitable the content of the session to the players you have and their current level. You also adapt to the category. And of course they adapt to the quality of the field. There is no need to play a game in a touch on a muddy ground with U12.

Write your session! Ideal: Note the session on the computer. This allows you to order the session with all the information. You will see it in a suite in the field everything will be clear and printed in your mind. This also allows you to send the session upstream to the other coaches in the category. You can also easily find operating ideas later or remember what has been working.

In the preparation of the session, remember to distribute the roles with the other coaches. Each work area must be covered by one of the coaches. It is inconceivable to see several coaches in a corner when on the other side of the players it is in total autonomy for an exercise.

Obviously during the session it adapts to the prediction … it is the characteristic of the coach adaptation permanently.

Give clear instructions

Before each exercise contact the players. Gathered in front of you. Talk when everyone is careful and so that everyone listen to you and understand what you say. Do not give your instructions walking or returning to some players, see everything …

Give the theme. Explain the instructions and if necessary to demonstrate or demonstrate. Specify the realization criteria. Ask if there are questions, it announces working hours.

Then divide the players into a team and in the different work areas.

Be precise and concise, nothing prays for an exercise that requires 45 minutes to be explained … If the exercise and session have been well prepared upstream, everything comes to mind quickly and the explanations are simple and fluid.

Animate, be present

Do not overdo it, but not be soft or your players must feel they observe them that you see what’s going on. Be involved in the session and every moment.

Correct, encourage evaluation. Turn on what you see.

This implies that you are 100% concentrated in the session and not to chat with other coaches or worse (and has been seen) on your smartphone.

Don’t take you for another, don’t play a coach. Be yourself on the field with your qualities and defects. Your way of intervening, being on the edge of the field will evolve while crossing your corrections or observations. You will find your style.

Come on voice without being an howl or someone who continues to speak. Be there.

Do not forget that a session is not only exercises, it is also and above all the welcome of the players, the human management of people who have come to exercise their passion in an educational learning framework.

Exchange

It is important to face your ideas and feelings with other people not to stay on your ideas and beliefs. Exchange with the other coaches present with you during the session. This can be done during the session or during a moment of exchange at the end of the session. This discussion can make changes or make variants to the exercise from the observations made by your counterparts.

This exchange can also be done with your technical contact person in the club that can from time to time attend your sessions. It is a good opportunity to discuss what you do well and what can be improved. It is good to use your experience to progress even faster. This can be on the content of the session or its animation etc …

And then don’t forget the exchange with other coaches who work in other clubs. They will have different things but above all with the same basis as you. This is an opportunity to cross the information and share your ways of considering problems.

Give and apply a framework

Obviously from the beginning of the season you give your players a frame. The training sessions must be made in an environment that allows everyone to correctly exercise their passion. It is up to you to modify these rules: timetables, places, respect for equipment, teammates, coaches, courtesy etc.

In the same way to give parents a specific picture to be able to perform the session in a specific climate for the development of the player. And above all, make sure this picture is respected throughout the season. Because very often the frame works well in the first three months and disintegrates while you go.

In conclusion, here is the advice given by Mr. Icoul, coach of the women’s team of FC. Nantes during our interview: “A child when he comes to football has a smile because he is happy to play football, our mission n ° 1 as a path is that starting that smile and the desire to return with the same enthusiasm in the next session.